Grapevine plant named ‘ARD46’

ABSTRACT

A new distinct variety of grapevine plant named ‘ARD46’ abundantly forms attractive meaty seedless berries with a red skin coloration, lax and large clusters which display a Labrusca flavor, the fruit commonly is ready for harvesting during July-August in San Joaquin Valley of Central California, U.S.A, and displays good eating qualities as a table grape having a fruit firmness which renders the fruit well amenable for handling, shipping, and storage.

Classification: The present invention relates to a new Vitis vinifera Grapevine.

Variety denomination: The new Grapevine plant has a varietal denomination ‘ARD46’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A breeding program was initiated during the late 1990's near Bakersfield in San Joaquin Valley of Central California. In 2016, during this breeding program, a new variety of Vitis vinifera was created by deliberate cross breeding of two parent plants by emasculation of the pollen bearing organ of the female and introducing pollen from another male origin. The female parent of the new variety was 103C-57+2 which is a crispy and juicy white seedless variety, with a natural sweet flavor (non-patented in the United States). The male parent (i.e. the pollen parent) of the new variety was 26−6+3, a fertile and crunchy seedless white variety (non-patented in the United States).

TABLE 1 ‘ARD46’ compared with parents & closely related variety: Flame ‘ARD46’ 103C-57+2 26-6+3 Seedless Berry Meaty Crispy and Crunchy Crisp texture Juicy Berry Broad Broad Ovoid Globose shape Ellipsoid Ellipsoid Cap Thick/Medium Medium/short Medium/ Thick/Short stem/brush Medium

The parentage of the new variety can be summarized as follows: 103C−57+2 X 26−6+3

An artificial pollination was created, and the result was an embryo which possessed unique genetic qualities. The rudiments resulting from the above pollination were embryo rescued.

In 2017 the plant was transplanted to Bakersfield in San Joaquin Valley of Central California.

It was found that the new grapevine of the present invention possesses the following combination of characteristics:

-   -   (a) Forms attractive meaty seedless berries with a red skin         coloration; in lax and large clusters which display a Labrusca         flavor,     -   (b) Commonly bears fruit during the month of July-August in the         San Joaquin Valley of Central California, U.S.A.,     -   (c) Bears fruit that is firm and is well amenable for storage,         handling, and shipping, and     -   (d) Produces 38 bunches per vine, and an average of about 2         bunches per shoot, at a total of 51 lbs. fruit per vine.

The new variety during observation to date has displayed no visible disease, and has displayed an ability to well resist cold, drought, heat; but sensitive to direct exposure to sun and wind. The fruit of the new variety has been found to display excellent handling and shipping qualities combined with desirable dessert eating qualities.

The new variety of the present invention has been found to undergo asexual propagation beginning in 2018 near Bakersfield in the San Joaquin Valley of Central California, U.S.A. by bud grafting on mature Thompson seedless rootstock (non-patented in the United States). Such asexual propagation has been conducted thereafter in successive years to date and has shown that the characteristics of the new variety are strictly transmissible from one generation to another. Accordingly, the new variety undergoes asexual propagation in a true to type manner.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The new variety ‘ARD46’ is a red seedless table grape with a high production, e.g., about 38 bunches per vine, and an average of about 2 bunches per shoot.

Asexual reproduction by micro propagation of the new variety as performed near Bakersfield, Calif., U.S.A., shows that the forgoing and other distinguishing characteristics come true to form and are established and transmitted through succeeding propagations.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The accompanying photographic illustration shows typical six-year-old specimens of the new variety, vegetatively propagated, in color as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to make in a color illustration of this character. Colors in the photograph may differ from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description below, which accurately describes the colors of the new Grapevine.

FIG. 1 shows leaves, stems, tendrils, and grapes of ‘ARD46’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The chart used in the identification of colors is The RHS Colour Chart of The ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY (3^(rd) Edition). The description is based on the observation of plants growing on Thompson Seedless' rootstock outdoors near San Joaquin Valley of Central California, U.S.A.

TABLE 2 VINE CHARACTERISTICS: Vigor Vigorous upright shoots Productive capacity Bearing at a natural, average capacity. Spur pruning. Trunk Strong and developed. Diameter is 2 inches, at 9.5 inches above ground. Rough with a fibrous, shaggy exterior. Light brown coloring - Greyed orange 177B

-   Date of bud burst in Bakersfield Calif.: February 26^(th).

TABLE 3 YOUNG SHOOT CHARACTERISTICS: Openness of tip Fully open Density of prostrate hairs on tip Medium Anthocyanin coloration of prostrate Red purple 59A hairs on tip Density of erect hairs on tip Medium

TABLE 4 YOUNG LEAF CHARACTERISTICS: Color of upper side of blade Yellow green 152A Color of lower side of blade Yellow green 152B Density of erect hairs between main Absent or very sparse veins on upper side of blade Density of erect hairs between main Sparse veins on lower side of blade Density of prostrate hairs on main Dense veins on upper side of blade Density of prostrate hairs on main Medium veins on lower side of blade

TABLE 5 SHOOT CHARACTERISTICS: Attitude (before tying) Semi-erect Color of dorsal side of internodes Greyed red 178A Color of ventral side of internodes Yellow green 146D Color of dorsal side of nodes Greyed red 178B Color of ventral side of nodes Yellow green 146D Density of erect hairs on internodes Sparse Density of prostrate hairs on Sparse internodes Length of tendrils 4.3 inches Diameter of tendrils 0.06 inches Color of tendrils Yellow green 144B Number of tendrils at bloom 5 Positioning of first flowering and The first bunch is in the 3rd fruiting node node Inflorescence number per flowering 2 shoot

TABLE 6 FLOWER CHARACTERISTICS: Reproductive organs Fully developed stamens and fully developed gynoecium Flower length 0.3 inches Flower diameter 0.17 inches Pistil length 0.14 inches Pistil color Yellow green 144A Pollen Amount Rich Pollen color Yellow 11B Stamen color Yellow green 145C Stamen length 0.15 inches Number of stamen 6

-   First bloom in Bakersfield, Calif.: April 15^(th). -   Date of full bloom in Bakersfield, Calif.: April 22^(nd).

TABLE 7 MATURE LEAF CHARACTERISTICS: Size of blade 6 inches × 6 inches Shape of blade Pentagonal Base descriptors Pentagonal Leaf margin Serrate Leaf apex Acute Blistering of upper side of blade Absent or very sparse Depth of upper lateral sinuses Shallow Number of lobes Five (Only varieties with lobed leaves) Closed Arrangement of lobes of upper lateral sinuses Arrangement of lobes of petiole Half open sinus Length of teeth 0.38 inches Ratio length/width of teeth Small Shape of teeth Mixture of both sides straight and both sides convex Density of prostrate hairs between Absent or very sparse main veins on lower side of blade Density of erect hairs on main veins Absent or very sparse on lower side of blade Density of erect hairs between the Absent or very sparse main veins on upper side of blade Density of prostrate hairs on main Absent or very sparse veins on upper side of blade Length of petiole compared to length Much shorter of middle vein Top side color Green 137A Bottom side color Yellow green 146B Texture of upper side of blade Rough Texture of lower side of blade Little Rough Vein color on upper blade Yellow green 146C Vein color on lower blade Yellow green 145C Venation pattern for upper blade Netlike venation Venation patten for lower blade Netlike venation Petiole length 2.75 inches Petiole diameter 0.11 inches Petiole color Yellow green 152A Petiole texture Rough Mature leaf anthocyanin coloration Strong (Red purple 58A) of main veins upper surface

-   Date of beginning of berry ripening in Bakersfield Calif.: July     15^(th).

TABLE 8 BUNCH CHARACTERISTICS: Size (peduncle excluded) Large Density of berries on bunch Lax Bunch length 9.5 inches Bunch diameter 5.5 inches Length of peduncle of primary bunch 0.75 inches Diameter of peduncle of primary 0.14 inches bunch Peduncle of primary bunch color Yellow green 145B Peduncle texture Smooth Bunches per vine 38 Average bunch weight 1.3 lbs

TABLE 9 BERRY CHARACTERISTICS: Size Medium Length 1 inch Weight 0.24 oz Diameter 0.8 inches Shape Broad ellipsoid Color of skin (without bloom) Red 53A Flesh color Yellow green 145D Brix 20.1 Titratable acidity percentage 0.25% Juice 4.1 pH Ease of detachment from pedicel Moderately easy Thickness of skin Medium Anthocyanin coloration of flesh None Firmness of flesh Moderately firm Particular flavor Foxy Formation of seeds None Berries per bunch 132 Juiciness of Berry Flesh Juicy

TABLE 10 PEDICEL CHARACTERISTICS: Length 0.35 inches Diameter 0.09 inches Color Yellow green 145C Pedicel texture Rough

TABLE 11 WOODY SHOOT CHARACTERISTICS: Woody shoot texture Rough Woody shoot color Greyed orange 165A Woody shoot length 60 inches Diameter 0.25 inches Internode length 2.9 inches

-   Market use of observed plants: Fresh market.

AGE AND GROWING CONDITIONS

Six years growing under Y system in South Joaquin Valley (hot, dry summers).

SHIPPING CHARACTERISTICS

Fruit was in cold storage. Stored in poly bags inside polystyrene boxes with sulfur pads. After 60 Days: rachises were 80% green; 0% berry shattering; no berry wrinkling or cracks were apparent.

DNA PROFILE

To further the characterize the new variety DNA was extracted from plant samples and a DNA profile was obtained at California Seed & Plant Lab, California USA using base pairs for 10 standard microsatellite DNA markers. The data is presented hereafter.

TABLE 12 DNA profile for ‘ARD46’ Microsatellite DNA Allele Sizes Marker in Base Pairs M 1 228 234 M 2 239 239 M 3 185 194 M 4 212 212 M 5 253 257 M 6 123 135 M 7 189 189 M 8 255 255 M 9 214 214  M 10 221 233

The ‘ARD46’ variety has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions to date. Accordingly, it is possible that the phenotypic expression may vary somewhat with changes in light intensity and duration, cultural practices, and other environmental conditions.

Additional information relating to plant and fruit disease and pest resistance or susceptibility has not been observed to date. Specification of the plant hardiness zone and the heat/cold resistance has not been observed to date. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct grapevine plant, botanically known as Vitis vinifera, identified as ‘ARD46’, substantially as shown and described herein. 